edited by Alastair Carthew and Simon Winkelmann
The Nepali media landscape was characterised in the second half of 2010 by a diplomatic row between the media and Indian embassy in Kathmandu, Indian authorities holding back newsprint for Nepalese newspapers, the alleged murder of a community radio station chairman, submissions to the United Nations on press freedom, self censorship accusations, the beating of, and death threats against, journalists.The row between the Nepali media and the Indian embassy in September erupted after the embassy issued a statement alleging media outlets of extorting Indian joint venture companies in the country, claiming media organisations had approached the companies for advertising and threatened negative publicity if they did not agree.
Journalist unions, media organisations and the Nepal Press Council all denounced the embassy for “breaching diplomatic propriety and acting in gross disrespect of the freedom and autonomy of the Nepali media.” The row stems from an embassy determination that Nepal’s largest media group, Kantipur Publications, was antagonistic toward Indian interests in Nepal.
In a similar dispute, the unexplained holding back by India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence of newsprint imported to the landlocked country by a leading Nepali publishing house for a number of weeks, created further friction. The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), a Kathmandu based freedom of expression monitoring group, called the Indian action “flimsy.”
In July Devi Prasad Dhital, chairman of community radio station Tulsipu FM, in the western district of Dang, was shot in the chest and later died. The motive was unknown. He was the third media owner to be killed in Nepal in 2010.
In July, ARTICLE 19 and Freedom Forum, two media freedom watchdog organisations, made submissions to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) that focused on what the groups said was the failure of the Interim Constitution, the Press and Publication Act and the National Broadcasting Act to comply with international standards on freed of expression and the failure of media regulation. They also expressed concern about the “lack of effective implementation” of the Right to Information Act to give full effect to the right to freedom of information by the public.
Concern was also raised by Freedom Forum and IFEX Clearing House, another watchdog group in Nepal, a Canadian group, about self-censorship growing among Nepali journalists. In one case a banner reading “Journalists: be aware, we will take action against you,” on a major hub in the city of Dharan in Sunsari district, was allegedly posted by a local police chief. In another incident, a reporter for Radio Annapurna,” was severely beaten in Pokhara in the west of Nepal, allegedly in association with his job. A journalist for the Kanitipur Daily in Kakadbhitta, Jhapa district and another working for Nepal Television were both threatened with violence.
A correspondent with the Annapurna Post daily in Nepalgunj, western Nepal was issued with a death threat allegedly in connection with a local political party, the Terai Janatantrik Party, which accused him of working against their activities and mission.
Nepal had 625,000 Internet users as of June, 2010, 2.2% penetration of the population. There were 573,000 Facebook users on 31 August, 2010, 2.0% penetration.
Nepal is 119th on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.